Incarnation Flashcards
How is Jesus shown as Gods incarnate
“And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High” (Luke 1:31-32)
Jesus means saviour in hebrew- fulfill promises made to Jews by God
Most high- referencing God. Jesus is his son
Differences in Lukes and Matthews gospel
Luke’s account:
In Lukes gospel the annunciation focused on Mary , Angel Gabriel meeting Mary, Jesus conceived through HS by Mary by accepting God’s task , Gabriels messages shows God is fulfilling his promise of sending the Messiah to the Jews
Matthew’s account:
Tells the story of how Joseph planned to break up with Mary because she was pregnant before marriage, angels tells him Mary pregannt with the HS , Angel calls Jesus ‘Emmanuel’ which means ‘God is with us’ and confirms Jesus is the Son of God , Angel confirms Jesus will save humanity
Similarities in the annunciation story:
Mary was a virgin
God worked through human beings to being about his plan for humanity
Jesus was concieved by the power of the Holy Spirit
Jesus was the son of God
The angel Gabrial announced Jesus’ birth
How is Jesus seen as the word of God
“In the beginning was the word, and the word was with God, and the Word was God.” (John 1:1) :
“In the beginning” the word existed before all thing (eternal)
“Word was with God” -word and God united. Power comes from God whilst the word gives guidance
“Was God”- word comes from within (self expression)
The word became flesh and lived among us” (John 1:14) :
“Word became flesh”- word took an human nature
“Lived among us”- expressions of God love to humans
How is Jesus viewed as son of man
Title given to Jesus.
Jesus is similar to humans since he has experienced suffering and death
Jesus views himself has equal to humans
How is Jesus viewed to be son of God
Jesus is asked if he is the Messiah and Son of the Blessed one. Jesus replies ‘I am’ - mark 14
Jesus acknowledges that he is son of God and shares his power but also refers to himself as son of man emphasising humanity and divinity
“Jesus is the image of the invisible God” - collosians 1:15
“In Jesus Christ, God himself came to the earth” - Youcat 10
Different christian symbols and their meanings
Symbol in early Christianity used for secret meeting places
I = first letter means Jesus
Ch= means God
Jesus is saviour , Son of God
Alpha = first letter of greek alphabet and the Omega is the last - Jesus is the begining and the end - “I am the Alpha and Omega, says the Lord God, who is and who was and who is to come” Revelation 1:8
Chi-rho meaning = remind of the death of Jesus - Jesus is messiah
Catholic reasons for art
Huge influence on beliefs for Catholics
God took on finite (not forever) limitations when he became human – humans are finite too
We don’t have evidence of what Jesus looked like – any representation or view of him is valuable
God became human for ALL people – only realistic that we show him as any ethnicity
Art work can help focus prayer and worship
Catholic reasons against art
God is infinite (forever) but art is finite (not forever)
If you pray to a statue/image some might get the impression you are worshipping that object
They can give the wrong idea about God
Goes against the 2nd commandment – Do not worship idols (statues/artwork)
CCC 2132 “whoever venerates an image venerates the person potrayed in it”
Interpretations of the crucifix
Acts as a reminder of Jesus’ crucifixion and Gods act of love in freeing people from sin and death
Interpretations of the Christ the redeemer
The outstretched arms represent Jesus on the cross and the openness of the father and son – the message of Jesus is for everyone.
The statue is very large signifies omnipotence
Jesus is overlooking everyone (his people)
Interpretations of the Sacred Heart
crown of thorns surrounding the heart to represent the crown that was placed on Jesus’ head when he was mocked by soldiers at his crucifixion - shows the suffering he went through
Jesus hand is pointing to his heart - signifying his love for us
Hole in Jesus hand - suffering he went through
Flames coming from thr hesrt - represents Jesus’ burning love for us
What are the beatitudes
(Matthew 5:1-12 )Sermon on the mount- Jesus takes the old law given to Moses in the Old Testament and changes the focus. He takes the focus from action to attitude. Christians believe he took the Old law and made it perfect.
By changing the attitude the temptation for thr action has been changed
What are the parable of the sheep and goats
Matthew 25:31-46- Jesus stresses the importance of helping those in need and who are poor. This is the essence of Christianity and Catholic teaching today.
St Irenaeus teachings about Jesus
He teaches that the incarnation is not only a teaching about the importance of the Gods love but also about the human race.
As Jesus is fully God and human, he is a meeting point between God and humanity.
Jesus is the perfect vision of God
What has St Irenaeus taught about Jesus
- God is invisible: he is beyond human sight and understanding.
- But Christians can get to know what God is like through Jesus.
- Because Jesus is the Son of God, he displays qualities of God
- This means Christians can develop a better understanding of God’s nature through examining the life and actions of Jesus.
St Irenaeus “the glory of God is a human, fully alive” knowing God from Jesus allows us to become “fully alive” know God’s glory
How is Jesus viewed as fully God and man
Dei Verbum 4:
“For He sent His Son… so that He might dwell among men and tell them of the innermost being of God.”- Jesus speaker for God to humanity
“Word made flesh, was sent ‘as a man to men’” - Son of God became humans to live with others
Verbum domini 12:
“…the eternal Word became small – small enough to fit into a manger. He became a child, so that the word could be grasped by us.”- Son of Gid became human for our understanding
“Christ, the incarnate, crucified and risen Word of God, is Lord of all things.”- Jesus accepeted death leading to ressurection and glory of the word of God
Catholic views of imago dei
“God created man in his image and likeness” Genesis 1:27 - all humans are holy
Catholic church does not agree with abortion as life begins at contraception unless the mother is at risk of death
“I feel the greatest destroyer of peace today is abortion, because it is a war against the child, a direct killing of the innocent child, murder by the mother herself”- Mother Teresa
What is grace and what does it do
The love that united the 3 persons of the Trinity (the Father, Son and Holy Spirit)
- pours out from the Trinity and gives life to ALL things
- pours into people’s hearts and calls them to a deeper relationship with God
- Gives believers the strength to carry out the Word of God and people to become aware of what God wants for them
How do christians view the nature of reality and how does incarnation influence their belief
Catholics believe the world is a sacrament. Gods love present throughout
Incarnation influencing belief:
Before the incarnation God was seen as distant
- Jesus was the ultimate gift from God and showed his love for us
- As Jesus lived on earth, we can see God as a living and active presence
- Although Jesus is no longer on earth, his is still active and sharing God’s love with people
- Jesus helped to bring God’s love and presence into the world - making the world sacramental.
Action and effect of baptism
Person becomes a member of the Church
Water is poured on their head – symbolises washing sin away
Effect: person becomes a child of God
Action and effect of confirmation
Person choosing to confirm they are a member of the Church
Forehead is anointed with oil
Effect:
Persons faith is strengthened and deepened
The power of the Holy Spirit is renewed in their life
Action and effect of Eucharist
When a person receives the body and blood of Christ (bread and wine)
Happens during mass
Effect:
Person receives the life of Christ
Helps them to keep growing in God’s love
Action and effect of marriage
When a couple give their consent to be married
Usually only happens once in a person’s life
Effect:
The couple accept that through their love for each God is active in their lives.
Action and effect of ordination
When a person becomes a priest, bishop or deacon
Happens through the laying of hands and anointing the hands with chrism – a symbolic gesture that passes on the Holy Spirit
Can only happen once in a person’s life
Effect: The person commits himself to God and the Church
He is given certain powers, such as being able to
consecrate at mass, preach and forgive sins on Gods behalf
Action and effect of reconciliation
When a person confesses their sins to a priest and these are forgiven
Can happen on a regular basis
Effect:
The persons relationship with God is restored
Action and effect of sacrament of the sick
When a person who is very ill is anointed with oil
Can happen more than once in a person’s life
Effect:
Gives strength to the person and also forgives their sins
